I registered about three weeks prior to the start of NaNo with no idea what the book would be about, where it would take place, or even if I could do it. I struggled for a short time, about a week, with the subject and even discussed it with my wife many times. We tossed a few ideas around and then, one night, I was coming home from work when I remembered a story idea I had about 20 years ago. I decided to modify that story idea and make it about a vampire. (Something I swore I would never write about.)
As the day to start drew near, I began to get excited. I really wanted to get started. I had to make a few adjustments, though.
One: I needed a laptop. I only had a desktop and I wanted the ability to write anywhere I could.
Two: I am not able to write unless I have random noises. I come from large family growing up and at home it is just me and my wife, so the house is usually quiet. So I decided to go to the local Waffle House whenever I could to write.
Three: My writing style would have to be different that what I was used to doing. What I mean is that I am so used to writing fantasy that I would have to put this book in the real world and that was a daunting task.
Four: I needed something that would entice me to finish the 50k words so I even went so far as to hire a professional cover artist to do the cover and shelled out the money to pay for it...which was no small amount. Since I had the idea for the story, I already knew how I wanted the cover to look and figured that if I payed something to get the cover done, it would force me to continue with the book.
It was with excitement and still a bit of fear that I finally started on November 1st. I went after work, before work, hell...even during work, to Waffle House and sometimes I stayed two hours, other times I stayed almost eight hours. But I did it. By November 25th, I reached the 50k goal and was thrilled.
I also found that I loved this book. It was a great adventure for me to write it. I still am not finished with it, but I will be soon. I got the cover for the book from the cover artist two days after hitting the 50k point with NaNo and I was thrilled. Now to finish the book and then edit it.
That is a whole other matter altogether.
The cover was done by WillowRaven at http://willowraven.weebly.com/
